News
CEE welcomes Dr Matthew Vickers as new CEO
We are pleased to confirm that Dr Matthew Vickers has been appointed as the next Chief Executive Officer of Community Energy England. He will take up the role from this month, working alongside Emma Bridge to ensure a smooth and effective transition.
Matthew joins CEE at a pivotal moment for the UK energy system and for the role of community energy within it.
Most recently, Matthew led the UK’s grid connections reform programme as Director of Connections Reform at the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO), helping unlock up to £40bn per year of private investment in energy infrastructure and accelerating the deployment of clean power. His leadership has been instrumental in strengthening investor confidence and enabling more locally grounded energy deployment.
Previously, as CEO and Chief Ombudsman of Ombudsman Services, Matthew helped shape fairer, more transparent energy markets and strengthen public trust during a period of significant market change.
Matthew brings deep experience at the intersection of system reform, regulation, infrastructure and community participation. His appointment reflects the Board’s ambition for CEE to play an even stronger role in shaping national energy policy, enabling local ownership models, and ensuring community energy is fully integrated into the transition to net zero.
We would like to thank Emma Bridge for her outstanding leadership and look forward to working with partners across government and the wider energy sector as CEE enters its next phase.
Pete Capener
On behalf of the Board
Community Energy England